SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spanos Barber Jesse & Co. (“SBJ”) today announced a final closing on its debut fund, SBJ Fund, LP, (“Fund”), with total capital of $204 million, exceeding its original $150 million target. The Fund invests in lower middle-market consumer, business services and healthcare services companies with up to $100 million in revenue and has the flexibility to invest in private equity and debt in control and non-control situations.
SBJ was founded by Gus Spanos, Tom Barber and Bill Jesse, who have over 60 years of combined investing and operating experience. Their prior experience includes investment firms such as Jesse.Hansen&Co and Black Canyon Capital, senior operating roles in more than 10 companies and board of director positions in more than 40 companies. The founders have invested over $500 million of capital into more than 30 companies, including Peet’s Coffee & Tea, The Wine Group, Archway Marketing, Design Within Reach, Jefferson Dental, Serena & Lily and Logan’s Roadhouse.
Earlier this summer, SBJ closed on its first investment by acquiring a controlling interest in Armor Express, one of the leading providers of soft body armor and related products to law enforcement, military, correctional and other public safety personnel. In addition, SBJ has a strong pipeline of other potential investments.
“We are extremely pleased by the reception our strategy and experience have received from a blue chip investor base consisting of well-known institutions, family offices and heads of major investment firms,” commented Gus Spanos, Co-Founder and Managing Director of SBJ. “Tom, Bill and I look forward to using our industry expertise and flexible capital to help founders and management teams achieve their business and financial objectives.”
SBJ is differentiated from traditional private equity funds in that the Fund has the flexibility to lead control buyouts as well as minority recapitalizations. This enables SBJ to serve as a one-stop financial partner and provide tailored financing solutions to meet the specific objectives of industry executives, management teams and agents. In addition, SBJ brings an operational approach to portfolio management by leveraging their prior operating experience as well as a network of operating executives with relevant domain expertise to build long-term value in partnership with management.
About Spanos Barber Jesse & Co.
Spanos Barber Jesse & Co. (“SBJ”) is a private investment firm with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Dallas that invests in U.S.-based lower middle-market consumer, business services and healthcare services companies. SBJ has the flexibility to invest in private equity and debt in control or non-control situations to finance buyouts, recapitalizations, acquisitions and growth. Prior investments of the founders include Peet’s Coffee & Tea, The Wine Group, Archway Marketing, Design Within Reach, Jefferson Dental, Serena & Lily and Logan’s Roadhouse.
For more information, please visit www.sbjcap.com.
